Electrically-operated switch for controlling circuits, &amp;c.



No. 789,457. 1 PATIINTBD MAY C, 1905.

II. C. CARCENI. BLBCTRICALLY CPBRATED SWITCH ICR CCNFIIICLLINC CIRCUITS, C0.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.23, 1900.

Pl Ml Fig. 2.

{Inval/Iter UNITED STATES Patented May 9, 1905.

PATENT OEEICE.

HOWARD R. SARGENT, OF SOHENEOTADY, NEV YORK, ASSIGNOR TO GENERAL ELEOTR'IOOOMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEV YORK.

ELECTRlCALLY-OPERATED SWITCH FOR CONTROLLING ClRCUlTS, &c.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 789,457', dated May 9, 1905.

Application filed August 23,1900. Serial No. 27,797.

To a/ZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known thatI, HOWARD R. SARGEN'L, a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady. in the State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrically-Operated Switches for Oontrolling Oircuits at Remote Points from Central Stations, of which the following is a specilication.

T he invention consists generally in an electromagnetic switch for controlling the connection from central stations of main circuits with consumers circuits, and the switch constructed in accordance with the invention possesses the especial advantages that its magnet requires to be only temporarily energized and that a very small movement of the magnetarmature serves to provide a long range of movement of the switch.

Figure l is an elevation of a switch embodying my invention. '1n this figure the electromagnets are shown in cross-section. Fig. 2 is a lateral elevation of the same switch.

The entire apparatus is mounted upon the base B, of insulating material, which is secured to a suitable support by screws S.

At the top of Fig. l, U U represent the terminal connections with the line-circuit, and U U the terminals of the branch or consumers circuit which it is desired to control. At the lower portion of the figure, O C represent magnet-coils, which are controlled by a switch at the central or controlling station to close or open, respectively, the branch circuit above described. Laminated-spring switch-pieces J serve to connect the terminal contacts N N of the line with the terminal contacts N N of the branch circuit. The switchpieces J are carried by supports H H', which reciprocate in fixed bearings E E. Levers T T are pivoted at V V to the lower end of the supports H H. Bell-crank levers L L. which work on stationary pivots F F. are pivoted at V V to the lower ends of the levers T T to form toggle-joints therewith. A magnet-armature A is loosely pivoted at (if G to the free ends of the bell-crank levers L L. The coil C is connected with the controllingstation through the terminals P P, and the coil O is likewise connected through the terminals P P. The operation is as follows: As shown in Fig. l, the lower coil C has been energized to attract the armature A, which has moved the short end of the bell-crank lever L a short distance, and hence has moved the long arm of said bell-crank lever a longer distance to bring it into alinement with the lever T. A projection 3 on the long arm of the bell-crank lever engages the lever T to prevent the levers from being carried beyond their position of alinement. During this operation the laminated-spring switch-piece J has been forced against the terminals N N and compressed, whereby not only does it make good contact with the terminals, butalso exerts a thrust along the toggle-levers which tends to maintain them in their position of alinement. lt will thus be clearl that only a momentary magnetic impulse is required to close the switch and that it will remain closed. until a second impulse in the opposite direction opens it.

` Secured to the supports H H, to which the switch-pieces J are secured, are supports D D, which carry cross-pieces D D, to which cross-pieces are secured carbon contacts R R. which extend beyond the switch-pieces J and constitute a secondary break. Then the switch-pieces J are moved away from the lower surface of the terminal contacts, the circuit is not broken, but current continues to How through the contacts R R, and when the latter are withdrawn from the short end surface of the termin al contacts the arc drawn is small, owing to the material of which the contacts are composed. and the surface impaired in this small degree is independent of the lower surface, which is engaged by the main switch-pieces J. \Vhen it is desired to open the consumer-s circuit U U, the switch at the controlling-station is operated to euergize the coil C. whereat the armature A is attracted upward, raising the short arms of the bell-crank levers L L, and thereby forcing the long arms of said levers outward from their former positions to pull the supports H H downward through their bearings and withdraw the switch-pieces J and the secondary contacts R from the terminal contacts. The construction and arrangement of. the means for actuating' this switch possess peculiar advantages for the purpose above described, since not only the coils C C are not required to be continuously energized, but a very small range ot' movement of the armature A sutlices to impart a long range of movement to the switch-pieces by reason of the bell-crank levers or multiplying' devices.

The mag'nets M M are highly eilicient and compact owing to their peculiar structure. T he easings o't' magnetic material are formed integral with the cores, the casings being secured to the base B by suitable screws Small cavities are formed in the cores, and g'uide-rods O O', which are made of non-magnetic material, such as brass, and are secured to the armature A, reciprocate in these cavities.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent otthe United States, is-

1. In a switch, the combination with terminal contacts, of aswitch-piece, an actuator therefor which is adapted to hold it in its closed position, a movable magnet member, means connecting the latter with the actuator for multiplying the movement of said member, and two mag'net-coils for moving said member in opposite directions, to open and close the switch.

2. ln a switch, the combination with terminal contacts, of a switch-piece, toggle-levers for actuating the same, which hold the switch-piece against the terminal contacts when the levers are in alinement, a movable magnet member, means connecting the latter with the toggle-levers for multiplying' the movement of said member, and two magnetcoils for moving the magnet member in opposite directions, to open and close the switch.

3. In a switch, the combination with terminal contacts, of aswitch-piece, a toggle for actuating the same, a magnet-armature, means connecting the armature with the toggle for multiplying' the movement of the armature, and two mag'net-coils for moving the armature in opposite directions, to open and close the switch.

4. ln a switch, the combination with terminal contacts, of a resilient switch-piece, tog'- gle-levers for Jf'orcing the switch-piece into contact with the terminals, the resilient switchpiece serving' to lock the toggle-levers in their position of alinement, a movable magnet member, means connecting said magnet member and toggle for multiplying the movement of the magnet member, and two magnet-coils for moving' the magnet member in opposite directions, to open and close the switch.

5. An electric switch, which comprises stationary terminal contacts, a movable switchpiece, a toggle Vfor actuating' the same, an electromagnet, and a connection between the switch-piece and the movable member of the magnet for multiplying the movement of the latter, whereby the switch is closed by a momentary impulse of the magnet, and is then held closed by the toggle.

6. An electric switch, which comprises terminal contacts, a laminated -spring switchpiece, a toggle which cooperates with said switch-piece to hold it under strain against the contacts, a magnet for actuating the toggle, and a multi plyingcon ncction between the magnet and toggle.

7. An electric switch, which comprises terminal contacts, a switch-piece adapted to be moved against said contacts and then held there mechanically, an electromagnet for moving said switch-piece,a multiplying connection between the magnet and switch-piece whereby the latter is moved a greater distancethan the movable part of the former, and magnetic means for releasing said switch-piece.

8. The combination with terminal contacts, of switch-pieces therefor, actuating-levers lor the switch-pieces, bell-crank levers pivoted to said actuating-levers to form tog'gles, a magnet-armature, to the opposite sides ot' which are pivoted the free ends ot' said bell-crank levers, and two magnet-coils for moving' said armature in opposite directions, to open and close the switches.

9. In a switch, the combination with a bellcrank lever, of a lever pivoted to one end thereof to form a toggle therewith, a bearing,and a switch-piece support pivoted to said level' and adapted to reciprocate in said bearing, a magnet-armature pivoted to the opposite end ot' said bell-crank lever, and two magnet-coils for moving said armature in opposite directions to reciprocate the switch-piece support.

l0. In a switch, the combination with a bellcranlrlever, of alever pivoted to one end thereof to form a toggle therewith, a switch-piece adapted to be moved by the toggle, a magnetarmature pivoted to the opposite end o't' said bell-crank lever, and two magnet-coils for moving said armature and switch-piece in opposite directions. to open and close the switch.

11. 1n a switch, the combination with stationary terminal contacts, ot' a movable switchpiece, an actuator therefor which is adapted to hold it in its closed position, a mag'net-armature, means connecting the latter with the actuator for multiplying' the movement of said armature, coils for moving' said armature in opposite directions, an iron-clad casing l'or each coil which is formed integral with the core, cavities in the cores, and non-magnetic guides secured to the arn'iature to reciprocate in said cavities.

In witness whereof 1 have hereunto set my hand this 22d day ot' August, A. l). 1900.

HOlVARl) R. SARGENT.

'Vitn esses:

BENJAMIN B. HULL, FRED Ross.

IOO 

